Megawatt Community Energy Fund Grant

This grant programme is currently closed to applications.

This year’s round was due to launch at the end of March 2024. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the launch of this round of the grant programme will be delayed until July 2024. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

The Megawatt Community Energy Fund uses profit from the business activity of Bristol Energy Cooperative and Low Carbon Gordano. The fund supports community action on reducing carbon in our atmosphere, and making energy more affordable. Bristol Energy Cooperative and Low Carbon Gordano are working with Quartet Community Foundation to administer these funds.

What can you apply for?

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, cause climate change. Burning fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and gas, puts carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We burn fossil fuels to generate energy, this includes electricity, heating water and buildings and powering our transport systems. Other causes of climate change include cutting down and burning forests (trees absorb carbon and release it when cut down or burned) and raising livestock.

To slow and reverse climate change, we need to switch to renewable energy sources, be more efficient in our energy use, and find ways of taking greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere. It is important everyone can access and afford the energy they need. Finding solutions to climate change is an opportunity to make our energy systems more local and fairer.

Climate change is happening now, solutions are available now, and we all can make a difference now. This is why the fund is supporting activities that aim to:

• Raise awareness of climate change, its solutions and how to reduce its impact (mitigation). This includes public outreach through talks, workshops, campaigns, and social, arts or sports activity.
• Reduce fossil fuel consumption of individuals, organisations and communities through energy measures, or through the more efficient use of resources. This could include transport projects (e.g. encouraging cycling and public transport use), local food growing projects (which reduce our use of food transported long distances), horticultural projects (e.g. planting trees and plants which absorb carbon), community sharing and networking (e.g. lift sharing, projects to spread good ideas), IT (e.g. harnessing social media) and health projects (e.g. healthy eating & exercise). Please be aware: Requests for heating and hot water systems that directly use fossil fuels will be a low priority for funding.
• Reduce fuel poverty to ensure everyone can access and afford the energy they need. This could include helping people on low incomes to reduce their energy bills, switch energy provider, and access grants to improve the energy efficiency of their home.

We can support all costs relating to your project or activity/project. This can include a contribution to core costs (e.g. core staff, office costs), project costs (e.g. venue hire, project worker) and capital costs. We encourage innovative ideas, including pilot projects, but can also support the development and growth of existing projects.

Who can apply?

We can accept applications from groups working in South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, and Sedgemoor District (Somerset). We will prioritise supporting small organisations with charitable aims. You do not have to be an energy or environmental group.